HARNESS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THEREOF

Abstract

A harness for a breathing apparatus includes an interface member (6) having an elongated shape and being configured for receiving a container of breathable gas of the breathing apparatus. A hip belt (2) is connected to the interface member at a first region (50) of the interface member. A first shoulder belt (16) and a second shoulder belt (18) are connected to the interface member at the first region and at a second region (52) of the interface member. The hip belt and/or the first and second shoulder belts comprise at least one first moulded heat resistant plastic material.

Claims

1. A harness for a breathing apparatus, the harness comprising: an interface member having an elongated shape, said interface member being configured for receiving a container of breathable gas of the breathing apparatus; a hip belt connected to the interface member at a first region of the interface member, and a first shoulder belt and a second shoulder belt, the first and second shoulder belts being connected to the interface member at the first region and at a second region of the interface member; wherein the hip belt and/or the first and second shoulder belts comprise at least one first moulded heat resistant plastic material.

2. The harness according to claim 1, wherein the first moulded heat resistant plastic material is a non-porous material.

3. The harness according to claim 1, wherein the first moulded heat resistant material is semirigid.

4. The harness according to claim 1, wherein the first moulded heat resistant material is elastic.

5. The harness according to claim 1, wherein the hip belt and the first and second shoulder belts exhibits an ergonomic shape, so that the hip belt and the first and second shoulder belts fit a torso of a wearer of the harness.

6. The harness according to claim 1, wherein the hip belt and/or the at least one shoulder belt further comprises a rubber material.

7. The harness according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of an edge of the hip belt and/or at least one shoulder belt comprises the rubber material.

8. The harness according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of an edge of the hip belt and/or at least one shoulder belt is formed of the rubber material.

9. The harness according to claim 6, wherein a hinge portion of the hip belt and/or the shoulder belts comprises the rubber material, which hinge portion is arranged in proximity to the connection of the hip belt and/or the shoulder belts respectively to the interface member.

10. The harness according to claim 6, wherein the edges, an outer side and an inner side of the hip belt and/or at least one shoulder belt are coated with the rubber material.

11. The harness according to claim 6, wherein the rubber material is coated onto the first heat resistant plastic material.

12. The harness according to claim 6, wherein the rubber material is vulcanized onto the first heat resistant plastic material.

13. The harness according to claim 6, wherein the rubber material is co-moulded with the first heat resistant material.

14. The harness according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first shoulder belt or the second shoulder belt comprises an eyelet, which is integrally moulded with said first or second shoulder belt.

15. The harness according to claim 1, wherein the hip belt and/or the first and second shoulder belts comprises a further moulded heat resistant plastic material, the properties of which differ from the first moulded heat resistant material.

16. The harness according to claim 15, wherein the further moulded heat resistant plastic material has a lower bending resistance than the first moulded heat resistant plastic material.

17. The harness according to claim 15, wherein a hinge portion of the hip belt and/or the shoulder belts comprises the further moulded heat resistant plastic material, which hinge portion is arranged in proximity to the connection of the hip belt and/or the shoulder belts respectively to the interface member.

18. The harness according to claim 15, wherein the further moulded heat resistant plastic material is co-moulded with the first moulded heat resistant plastic material.

19. The harness according to claim 15, wherein the further moulded heat resistant plastic material is a rubber material.

20. The harness according to claim 15, comprising a first shoulder belt adjusting mechanism and a second shoulder belt adjusting mechanism, the first and second shoulder belt adjusting mechanism being provided for adjusting the length of the first and second shoulder belts, respectively.

21. The harness according to claim 15, comprising a hip belt adjusting mechanism, the hip belt adjusting mechanism being configured to adjust the length of the hip belt.

22. The harness according to claim 15, comprising a shoulder belt connecting piece connected to the interface member in the first region, wherein the first and second shoulder belts are connected to the shoulder belt connecting piece.

23. The harness according to claim 15, wherein the first and second shoulder belts form an integral single shoulder pad.

24. The harness according to claim 23, wherein the first and second shoulder belts are connected at their upper ends.

25. Method of producing a harness for a breathing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: providing an interface member having an elongated shape, said interface member being configured for receiving a container of breathable gas of the breathing apparatus; forming a hip belt, by moulding at least one first heat resistant plastic material forming a first shoulder belt and a second shoulder belt by moulding at least one first heat resistant plastic material connecting the hip belt to the interface member at a first region of the interface member, and connecting the first and second shoulder belts to the interface member at the first region and at a second region of the interface member.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the step of forming the hip belt and/or the step of forming the first and second shoulder belts comprises co-moulding at least two heat resistant plastic materials.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the step of forming the hip belt and/or the step of forming the first and second shoulder belts comprises injection moulding, extrusion moulding compression moulding or lamination moulding.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0065] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a harness according to the invention;

[0066] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a side view of the harness shown in FIG. 1 but from another side;

[0067] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an upper part of the harness;

[0068] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a view of the upper part back side of the harness; and

[0069] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an enlarged view of a lower part of the harness illustrating the hip belt and how the hip belt is connected to the interface member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0070] The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

[0071] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 an embodiment of a harness 1 is described. The harness 1 comprises a hip belt 2, an elongated interface member 6 and a shoulder pad 4 having a first shoulder belt 16 and a second shoulder belt 18. The elongated interface member 6 is shaped longitudinal in the direction of a carrier's back when the harness is worn by a person.

[0072] The first shoulder belt 16 and the second shoulder belt 18 have an ergonomic shape so that they are comfortable to wear also under difficult circumstances when under pressure and when exposed to a tough environment.

[0073] The interface member 6 is configured to receive and hold a container (not shown) comprising breathable gas, said container being part of a breathing apparatus (not shown) as it is used for example by firefighters and divers. The interface member 6 may be made of a heat-resistant rigid plastic or another rigid and heat-resistant material.

[0074] The shoulder pad 4 comprises the first shoulder belt 16 and the second shoulder belt 18. The first and second shoulder belts 16, 18 are connected to each other at upper ends 58 and they are configured to extend over the shoulders of a carrier down the chest of the carrier, when the harness is worn by a carrier. The length of the first and second shoulder belts 16, 18 may vary, in all cases they extend however well beyond and over the carrier's chest. The shoulder pad 4 is connected to the interface member 6 where the first and the second shoulder belts 14, 16 merge, thus at their respective upper ends 58. The shoulder pad 4 may be connected to the interface member 6 in a second region 52 thereof via a screw/stem connection or via a clamp mechanism as will be described later on referring to FIG. 4. The second region 52 is located close the shoulders/neck of the carrier when the harness 1 is worn by a person/the carrier.

[0075] FIG. 1 further illustrates the hip belt 2 which is connected to the interface member 6 in a first region 50. The first region 50 is located close the carriers hip when the harness 1 is worn by the carrier. The hip belt 2 is connected to the interface member 6 via a screw/stem connection as it is also illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0076] The hip belt 2, the first and second shoulder belts 16, 18 and thus the shoulder pad 4 comprise a first type of heat-resistant plastic. Preferably the hip belt 2 and the first and second shoulder belts 16, 18 are made of the first type of heat-resistant plastic for example by a moulding manufacturing process such as injection moulding or the like. Such a moulding manufacturing process results in that the hip belt 2, the shoulder pad 4 and thus the first and second shoulder belts 16, 18 are smooth and non-porous while still being elastic and heat-resistant.

[0077] There are various ways to achieve a plastic with the desired characteristics, which will be not specifically described herein.

[0078] The first shoulder belt 16 and the second shoulder belt 18 may further comprise rubber-extended edges 32, 38 or edges 32, 38 coated with rubber to increase the comfort for the carrier. In the same way may the hip belt 2 comprise rubber-extended edges 54 or edges 54 coated with rubber to increase the comfort for the carrier. The rubber is comparably soft and avoids that the hip belt 2 and in particular the first and second shoulder belts 16, 18 cut into the soft tissue of the carrier when the harness 1 is worn. The rubber may be integrally formed on the hip belt 2 and the first and second shoulder belts 16, 18, respectively, during the moulding manufacturing process or it may be vulcanized onto the first type of heat resistant plastic after the moulding manufacturing.

[0079] The first and second shoulder belts 16, 18 are connected to a shoulder belt connecting piece 44 by means of a first shoulder belt adjusting mechanism 8 and a second shoulder belt adjusting mechanism 10, respectively. The shoulder belt connecting piece 44 is arranged in between the interface member 6 and the hip belt 2, as shown in FIG. 1. The shoulder belt connecting piece 44 is made of rigid and stiff material such as rigid heat-resistant plastic, similar or the same as used for the interface member 6. As shown in FIG. 1, the shoulder belt connecting piece 44 extends on both lateral side of the interface member 6 beyond the latter whereby the first and second shoulder belts 16, 18 are connected to these extensions. The first shoulder belt adjusting mechanism 8 and the second shoulder belt adjusting mechanism 10 interconnect the second ends of the first and second shoulder belts 16, 18, respectively, to the shoulder belt connecting piece 44.

[0080] It is hereby noted that although the shoulder belt connecting piece 44 is shown it is also possible to connect the first and second shoulder belts 16, 18 via the hip belt 2 to the interface member 6 or to connect them directly to the interface member 6. Such an embodiment would render the shoulder belt connecting piece 44 redundant.

[0081] In the illustrated embodiment of the harness 1, the first and second shoulder belt adjusting mechanisms 8, 10 may each comprise a retaining element 22, 26, for example in the form of a retaining knuckle and an extension element 20, 24, for example in the form of a flexible band such as a woven fabric or the like. The retaining elements 22, 26 may be attached to lower ends 60 of the first and second shoulder belt 16, 18, respectively and the extension elements 22, 26 may be attached to the shoulder belt connecting piece 44. The extension elements 22, 26 may then each be threaded into their respective retaining element 20, 24 so that the carrier can adjust the length of the first and/or second shoulder belt 16, 18.

[0082] Similarly as the first and second shoulder belt adjusting mechanism 8, 10 is there provided a hip belt adjusting mechanism 12 comprising on each free end of the hip belt 2 a retaining element 30, 30′, for example in the form of a retaining knuckle, attached in a region of a free end of the hip belt 2 and two extension elements 28, 28′, for example in the form of a flexible band such as a woven fabric or the like, which are threaded into the retaining elements 30, 30′. One of the two extension elements 28′ is connected to or threaded into a female piece 64′ of a snap mechanism 62 and the other of extension element 28 is connected to or threaded into a male piece 64 of the snap mechanism 62. In order to adjust the length of the hip belt 2 the carrier may then simply pull on the free ends of the extension elements 28, 28′ when the snap mechanism 62 is closed.

[0083] In view of the above it is clear that other embodiments of a hip belt adjusting mechanism 12 may be envisaged. There may for example be only one retaining element (not shown) fixed to either the female or male piece 64′, 64 of the snap mechanism 12 whereby the free respective other ends of the extension elements are fixedly attached to the male piece 64 and the free ends of the hip belt 2.

[0084] FIGS. 1 and 2 further illustrate a handle 70 which may be used to carry the harness when it is not worn by a person. Additionally the first region 50 of the interface member 6 may comprise an extension 74 (best illustrated in FIG. 2) to protect at least a part of the breathing apparatus.

[0085] In another embodiment, which is not shown in the drawings, it may be envisaged to embody the extension elements 20, 24 of the first and second shoulder belt mechanisms 8, 10 with a toothed belt or strap and the retaining elements 22, 26 of the first and second shoulder belt mechanisms 8, 10 with a ratchet so that the toothed belt can be threaded into the ratchet. The ratchet may then be easily used to adjust the length of the first and/or second shoulder belt 16, 18, respectively.

[0086] The retaining elements 30, 30′ and the extension elements 28 and the snap mechanism 62 of the hip belt adjusting mechanism 12 my be embodied in a similar manner. One of the extension elements 28, 28′ may be replaced with a plastic strap (not shown) attached at one end to one of the free ends of the hip belt 2, whereby at the free end of the plastic strap a ratchet may be connected or attached. The other of the extension elements 28, 28′ may then be embodied in the form of a toothed belt or strap, which at one end is attached to the other free end of the hip belt 2 and which other free end of the toothed belt may be threaded into or engaged with the ratchet.

[0087] FIG. 3 illustrates the first and second shoulder belts 16, 18 and how they are connected at one of their ends. Alternatively the first shoulder belt 16 and the second shoulder belt 18 may be separated from each other and not be connected. The first shoulder belt 16 and the second shoulder belt 18 may thus be produced separately.

[0088] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first shoulder belt 16 and the second shoulder belt 18 may comprise eyelets 34, 40 for receiving various tools or connectors. The eyelets 34, 40 may be configured to receive hooks for holding a pipe supplying breathable gas to the carrier as illustrated with eyelet 34. Alternatively the eyelets may comprise hooks or rings to receive torches or other useful equipment.

[0089] Close to the second region 52 of the interface member 6, the first shoulder belt 16 and the second shoulder belt 18 comprise each a shoulder belt section which forms a hinge portion 46, 48 that is configured to be more flexible than the other parts of the first shoulder belt 16 and the second shoulder belt 18. These hinge portions 46, 48 may comprise a second type of heat-resistant plastic that is softer than the first type of heat-resistant plastic. The second type of heat resistant plastic may for example be rubber. The hinge portions 46, 48 may be in the range of 2 to 20 cm long, preferably 5 to 15 cm as measured in a longitudinal direction of the first and second shoulder belts 16, 18, respectively.

[0090] The hinge portions 46, 48 may be formed of the first moulded heat resistant plastic material being coated with or embedded in a rubber material

[0091] The hinge portions 46, 48 may extend over part of the width of the respective first or second shoulder belt 16, 18 or they may extend over the entire width of the corresponding shoulder belt 16, 18.

[0092] In order to provide these hinge portions 46, 48 it may for example be possible to provide a structure comprising the first type of heat-resistant plastic and the second type of heat-resistant plastic. The first type of heat-resistant plastic and the second type of heat resistant plastic of the sections may be integrally connected to the first type of heat-resistant plastic of the rest of the first and second shoulder belt 16, 18, respectively. The first type of heat-resistant plastic and the second type of heat-resistant plastic may be chosen so that they can be easily injection moulder in one step.

[0093] Also at such an arrangement it is possible that the second material forming the hinge portions 46, 48 and/or the first material forming the rest of the shoulder belts is/are coated with or embedded in a rubber material.

[0094] FIG. 4 illustrates how the shoulder pad 4 and the first and second shoulder belts 16, 18, respectively, are connected to the interface member 6 in the second region 52. First and second shoulder belts 16, 18 may each comprise projections 66, 66′ at or close to their ends that are configured to be connected to the second region 52 of the interface member 6. The projections 66, 66′ may comprise cut outs or the like in which a blocking piece 68, 68′ may engage and secure the shoulder pad 4 and first and second shoulder belts 16, 18, respectively to the interface member 6 in a clamping engagement. Although this specific clamping connection is shown in the figures, it is also possible to connect the shoulder pad 4 and the first and second shoulder belts 16, 18, respectively by a screw/stem engagement having washers or not. Such a screwed connection may preferably comprise more than one screw and more than one stem.

[0095] Similar to the first and second shoulder belts 16, 18 may also the hip belt 2 comprise hip belt sections, which form hinge portions 56, 56′ similar to the above described shoulder belt section 46, 48 and as illustrated in FIG. 5. These hip belt hinge portions 56, 56′ may be located preferably close to the first region 50 of the interface member 6 on either side of the interface member 6. Again as previously described these hip belt hinge portions 56, 56′ may partially comprise the second type of heat-resistant plastic and partially the first type of heat-resistant plastic or they may alternatively only comprise the second type of heat-resistant plastic. Also these hinge portions may be coated with or embedded in a rubber material.

[0096] The hip belt hinge portions 56, 56′ enhance the comfort and handling of the harness 1.

[0097] FIG. 5 additionally illustrates the screw/stem connection 72, which is used to connect the hip belt 2 to the interface member 6.

[0098] The hip belt hinge portions 56, 56′ may extend over the entire width of the hip belt 2. Alternatively the hip belt hinge portions 56, 56′ may extend only over part of the hip belt 2. The length of each of the hip belt hinge portions 56, 56′ as measured in a longitudinal direction of the hip belt 2 may be in a range of 3 to 15 cm preferably 5 to 12 cm.

[0099] The harness may readily be produced by utilizing the following process steps:

[0100] Providing an interface member (6) having an elongated shape, said interface member being configured for receiving a container of breathable gas of the breathing apparatus.

[0101] Forming a hip belt (2), by moulding at least one first heat resistant plastic material.

[0102] Forming a first shoulder belt (16) and a second shoulder belt (18) by moulding at least one first heat resistant plastic material.

[0103] Connecting the hip belt (2) to the interface member at a first region (50) of the interface member.

[0104] Connecting the first (16) and second (18) shoulder belts to the interface member at the first region and at a second region (52) of the interface member.

[0105] The step of forming the hip belt and/or the step of forming the first and second shoulder belts may comprise co-moulding at least two heat resistant plastic materials.

[0106] The step of forming the hip belt and/or the step of forming the first and second shoulder belts may comprise injection moulding, extrusion moulding compression moulding or lamination moulding.

[0107] The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims.